A family that thinks about families

Her grandparents’ house was falling into disrepair, but Melissa saw its full potential: with a lot of effort and sacrifice, a magical place was born.
Far from convention, it is home, inn, grocery, spa and much more.

When you arrive at Locanda Il Campo della Quercia and meet little Venus and Diletta, you realise that something special has been built here, where work and private life have found a happy balance that is also passed on to the guests.

But how did this cosy and far from stereotypical inn come into being?

Melissa told Simone about her project in 2014, after not even a month that they were dating: to turn her grandparents’ old house into a bed & breakfast, or something like that. She was so enthusiastic about it that she convinced him straight away and, with the help of her parents, the renovation work began. With hard work and determination, the dream took shape. On New Year’s Eve 2015, they opened their inn, in an absolutely wonderful location, surrounded by nature and with a splendid view of the surrounding mountains. Melissa had managed to see the full potential of her ancestral home, rescue it from oblivion and turn it into her business.

After the inn opened, Simone went from boyfriend to husband and also to handyman in his spare time. Gradually the name of the Locanda il Campo della Quercia began to become known for its good food, the care of the rooms, and the courteous welcome. Simone made the decision to quit his job as an electrician and take over the business full-time: there is always plenty to do in a place like this!

The family soon expanded, first with the arrival of Venere, then Diletta and in 2024 Petra. Even the inn, which started out with only two rooms, expands to have a double room and four for families, because this is a space designed by a family to welcome families.

Simone is a good handyman, he loves to build and repair with his hands. Project after project, the outdoor bar, the gelateria and the wellness area are born: simple and intimate, they allow total immersion in the surrounding nature.

The Locanda del Campo della Quercia is far from the beaten track, but you certainly don’t feel lonely here: the girls welcome guests with a smile and love to feel like cheerful little helpers. Melissa is mostly in the kitchen, Simone welcomes guests and together they are a point of reference for getting the right tips for exploring the Maira Valley.

Almost everything here is homemade: the bread, grissini, jams, pasta, biscuits… products that are so popular with customers that Melissa and Simone convinced them to open a small shop, so that guests can take home a good souvenir and those passing through can stock up on delicacies.

What will this special family come up with tomorrow? Surely it will be something that will leave everyone incredulous and amazed, just like the view from this house, which has found new life but does not betray its family origins.

And if you liked their story, go and visit them and ask them why it is called Campo della Quercia: this too is a good story to hear!

Watch the video story dedicated to the Locanda Il Campo della Quercia at this link.

This story is part of the project ‘Stories of life in the Maira Valley’, conceived by the Maira Valley Tourist Consortium and realised by photographer Eunice Brovida, videomaker Fabjo Hazizaj and copywriter Milena Rivolta.

Discover the other stories on the vallemaira.org website and on our social networks